DONUT 7: Marko Brdek Opens the Season with Victory in Mičevec
The 2026 DONUT season began on 18 and 19 April at the Bugatti Rimac test track in Mičevec.
The first of four rounds brought together leading drivers from Croatia and across the region, introduced a new track layout and attracted a record crowd for a DONUT season opener.
After several months away from competition, new car builds and intensive preparation, DONUT 7 provided the first real indication of which drivers and teams had made the biggest step forward during the winter.
SATURDAY QUALIFYING SET THE ORDER FOR SUNDAY
Saturday was reserved for technical inspections, practice sessions and qualifying runs.
The new layout at the Bugatti Rimac test track combined higher speeds with technically demanding sections. Drivers had to find the ideal line and the right car setup quickly, as every qualifying point could influence their position in the elimination bracket.
Qualifying results — Top 3
Nikola Ilić
Ivo Znaor
Erik Janković
The qualifying results showed just how closely matched this year’s field had become. The gaps between the leading drivers were small, while several favourites were left with a far more difficult route through Sunday’s elimination battles than they had expected.
BRDEK AND BROLLI MEET IN THE GRAND FINAL
Sunday brought the head-to-head elimination battles, with two cars taking to the track at the same time.
Marko Brdek and Austria’s Peter Brolli progressed through a series of demanding tandem runs to reach the grand final.
Following two closely contested runs, in which the difference came down to small mistakes and the precision of the chase, the judges awarded the victory to Brdek.
It was a particularly meaningful result for the driver from Velika Gorica. He opened the season with a victory on home ground, in front of a crowd that supported him from his first run of the weekend to the final awards ceremony.
In the battle for third place, Slovenia’s Erik Janković defeated Bruno Stergar to claim the final position on the podium.
Final results — DONUT 7
Marko Brdek
Peter Brolli
Erik Janković
Bruno Stergar
A WEEKEND SHAPED BY CHANGING WEATHER
One of the biggest challenges of DONUT 7 was the weather.
The forecast changed throughout the weekend, while the possibility of rain affected the organisation of Sunday’s programme. The schedule had to be adjusted to the actual conditions at the venue.
The priority was to complete the most important part of the competition safely, without exposing the drivers or spectators to unnecessary risk.
The changing conditions also presented a challenge for the teams. Track temperature, available grip and tyre choice could all shift within a short period, requiring teams to monitor the surface continuously and react quickly.
DONUT 7 was also the first round of a new season and the first major test for cars that had undergone extensive changes over the winter.
While some drivers immediately found a strong rhythm, others spent the weekend resolving technical issues and adapting their setups to the new layout.
THE FIRST POINTS AND THE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER
With victory in the opening round, Marko Brdek moved into the lead of the DONUT International Cup standings.
After the first event, the top of the championship looked as follows:
Marko Brdek
Peter Brolli
Erik Janković
One round was not enough to make any serious predictions about the eventual champion, but it showed that drivers from several countries would be fighting at the front.
In a season consisting of only four rounds, there will be very little room for mistakes.
The next event arrives just two weeks later at a completely different venue — Stinice in Split.
